KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE
- No lifting of Thailand’s face masks in public mandate, some places may be exempted. The mandate requiring the wearing of face masks in public will not be lifted outright when the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meets tomorrow (Friday), but guidance will be provided as to where masks can be removed. Today, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dismissed speculation that the CCSA will lift the face mask mandate, saying that it is a social measure and the Ministry of Public Health does not intend to do away with it yet, but will assess in which public venues the requirement can be relaxed. Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as the head of the CCSA, has made clear that, in considering the face mask issue, the CCSA must exercise great caution and listen to the opinions of many experts, with public safety being the primary concern. Source: Thai PBS
- Firms push for softer tourism rules. Call for end to state of emergency. Tourism-related operators are encouraging the government to ease Covid-19 restrictions further to drive the economy as well as lift the state of emergency. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the main concern after the country’s reopening is a lack of workers as many former employees are not confident about returning because of the instability of tourism demand. Speaking at the “Thailand Moving Together” seminar on Thursday, Mrs Marisa said many countries already lifted mask mandates and Thailand should adopt the same policy, leaving each company or individual person to decide on their own whether to mask up. Source: Bangkok Post
- Thailand freezes prices of 46 products for another year. The Central Committee on the Price of Goods and Services has decided to freeze the prices of 46 items, including instant noodles, vegetable oil, canned food and five services, until the end of June next year, according to Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit. Price controls on these goods and services were due to expire at the end of this month. The minister said today (Thursday) that price controls are necessary in the wake of a rise in the prices of food and numerous consumer products, due to a steady increase in energy prices. He said that he has instructed governors and commerce officials in all provinces to monitor prices of goods, to prevent traders from hiking the prices of controlled products. The minister dismissed reports of a shortage of canned fish and vegetable oil, as he assured that there is sufficient supply to meet domestic demand, adding that a panel has been set up specifically to monitor bottled vegetable and palm oils, to ensure that there is no shortage. Source: Thai PBS, Bangkok Post
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- PM touts digital hub at summit. Declaring Thailand as Asean’s Digital Hub would be a great opportunity to showcase advances in Thai 5G technology on a regional level, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday. Digital technology can play a key role in the nation’s development and competitiveness, said Gen Prayut, who also serves as Minister of Defence. He made the remarks after presiding over the opening ceremony of the Thailand 5G Summit 2022 under the theme “The 5G Leader in the Region”. Source: Bangkok Post
- 3 influencers held over Lazada ad. Three influencers have been arrested and charged for offending the monarchy in their Lazada online shopping advertisement shown on social media last month. Pol Col Siriwat Deepor, deputy chief of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, said Aniwat Prathumthin, widely known as Nara Crepe Katoey, was nabbed at Don Mueang Airport while Thidaporn Chaokuwiang and Kittikhun Thamkitirat were arrested at home. They have been charged with lese majeste while Nara has also been charged under the Computer Crime law. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS
- Top Australian diplomat visits Solomon Islands to address security concerns. HONIARA, Solomon Islands: Australia’s foreign minister landed on Friday (Jun 17) in Solomon Islands to address relations frayed by the Pacific nation’s cosy ties and recent security pact with China. It is the latest stop in a South Pacific travel blitz by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is seeking to shore up regional ties against China’s growing sway. It marks the first visit to the Solomons by an Australian foreign minister since the island nation sealed a security pact in April with China, sparking alarm in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The agreement has not been made public, but a leaked draft showed that it would allow Chinese naval deployments to the islands, which lie less than 2,000km from Australia. Source: Channel News Asia
- Govt vows tough action on climate. PARIS: Australia’s new government has committed to toughen its short-term targets on cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, a key policy shift in a nation long regarded as a global climate laggard. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who won office last month, confirmed an election pledge to lower carbon emissions by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030, saying the new target would give certainty to citizens and businesses. Source: Bangkok Post print edition
COVID
- 1, 966 new cases and 19 deaths Source: Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
- No lifting of Thailand’s face masks in public mandate, some places may be exempted. The mandate requiring the wearing of face masks in public will not be lifted outright when the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meets tomorrow (Friday), but guidance will be provided as to where masks can be removed. Today, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dismissed speculation that the CCSA will lift the face mask mandate, saying that it is a social measure and the Ministry of Public Health does not intend to do away with it yet, but will assess in which public venues the requirement can be relaxed. Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as the head of the CCSA, has made clear that, in considering the face mask issue, the CCSA must exercise great caution and listen to the opinions of many experts, with public safety being the primary concern. Source: Thai PBS
- Thailand to start producing anti-Covid nasal spray by Q3 2022. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is expected to start producing the antibody nasal spray solution to prevent Covid-19 by the third quarter of this year. “GPO’s Viral Vaccine Division under the Department of Biological Products received a certificate of registration on June 6, allowing it to start manufacturing the solution containing the human IgG1 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody,” GPO director Rangsee Padlee said on Thursday. GPO’s nasal spray was first introduced for trials in February in cooperation with the Chulalongkorn University, Silpakorn University, Health Systems Research Institute and High Bioscience Ltd. The spray is currently in its last clinical trial phase conducted by the National Cancer Institute. Source: The Nation
- COVID-19 Situation Expected to Continuously Improve. BANGKOK, June 16 (TNA) — The government expects COVID-19 and economic situations to improve continuously as the number of new daily cases is stable and new fatalities are below 20 a day, according to the government’s spokesman. Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was satisfied with the local COVID-19 situation after the new academic year had started and entertainment places including pubs, bars and karaoke shops had received the government’s green light to reopen on June 1. New daily cases were falling faster than expected while new fatalities remained below 20 a day for four days in a row. The prime minister hoped that the COVID-19 situation would improve continuously and would not affect economic stimulation in the second half of this year, Mr Thanakorn said. Source: Thai News Agency
POLITICS
- Surapong quits top Pheu Thai role: source. Dr Surapong Suebwonglee has resigned as the Pheu Thai Party’s acting director to avoid a possible legal complication that could cause the main opposition party to be dissolved, according to a party source. Dr Surapong was named Pheu Thai director last Oct 28 but was soon after reduced to acting director when Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) member Ruangkrai Leekitwattana petitioned the Election Commission to investigate his past. Mr Ruangkrai, formerly a Pheu Thai member, argued Dr Surapong was not qualified to serve as an opposition party member, let alone its director, due to prohibitions under Section 98 of the constitution. The section bars anyone released from prison for less than 10 years from being a member of a party. The ban is also reflected in Pheu Thai’s membership rules, Mr Ruangkrai said. The former Information and Communication Technology (ICT) minister was released from jail in July 2017 after serving 10 months of a one-year term for malfeasance. Source: Bangkok Post
ECONOMICS
- Thailand freezes prices of 46 products for another year. The Central Committee on the Price of Goods and Services has decided to freeze the prices of 46 items, including instant noodles, vegetable oil, canned food and five services, until the end of June next year, according to Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit. Price controls on these goods and services were due to expire at the end of this month. The minister said today (Thursday) that price controls are necessary in the wake of a rise in the prices of food and numerous consumer products, due to a steady increase in energy prices. He said that he has instructed governors and commerce officials in all provinces to monitor prices of goods, to prevent traders from hiking the prices of controlled products. The minister dismissed reports of a shortage of canned fish and vegetable oil, as he assured that there is sufficient supply to meet domestic demand, adding that a panel has been set up specifically to monitor bottled vegetable and palm oils, to ensure that there is no shortage. Source: Thai PBS, Bangkok Post
- Firms push for softer tourism rules. Call for end to state of emergency. Tourism-related operators are encouraging the government to ease Covid-19 restrictions further to drive the economy as well as lift the state of emergency. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the main concern after the country’s reopening is a lack of workers as many former employees are not confident about returning because of the instability of tourism demand. Speaking at the “Thailand Moving Together” seminar on Thursday, Mrs Marisa said many countries already lifted mask mandates and Thailand should adopt the same policy, leaving each company or individual person to decide on their own whether to mask up. Source: Bangkok Post
- Weak baht helps some sectors. The weaker baht is expected to boost the Thai economy and increase real GDP by 0.4%, but not all manufacturers will reap the benefits, says the Industry Ministry. Industries such as steel, medicine and oil, which depend greatly on the import of raw materials and have few exports, will bear the brunt of the baht depreciation, said the ministry. Manufacturers will experience varying outcomes as the value of the baht decreases, but overall the Thai economy will benefit, said Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The baht fell to 34.46 against the US dollar on June 7, down from 33.38 baht on Dec 30 last year. Source: Bangkok Post
- Korn urges B60bn loan for Oil Fund. Korn Chatikavanij, a former finance minister and now leader of the Kla Party, suggested the government provide an additional 60-billion-baht loan to improve the liquidity of the Oil Fuel Fund. He also proposed only subsidising oil prices for select sectors and encouraging motorists to cut back on energy consumption while oil prices remain high. Source: Bangkok Post
OTHER
- Chadchart plans new walking streets in Bangkok. Bangkok is expected to see new walking streets to help stimulate the economy and improve people’s livelihoods, says city governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will consider areas that can be turned into a walking street in each district, Mr Chadchart said after a meeting with BMA officials on Thursday. The meeting discussed actions plans for implementing the governor’s policies and their progress indicators. Source: Bangkok Post
For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK
